The Classic Volkswagen Kübelwagen Is Not To Be Toyed With
The Volkswagen Kübelwagen was a Nazi war machine similar to a Jeep with unique features that enabled it to fight until the end.
Written by Hannah DeWitt
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
The
Volkswagen
Kübelwagen is a timeless machine whose history can be traced back to battle-scarred Europe during World War II. The vehicle's name is a contracted version of Kübelsitzwagen, which, when translated to English, means a bucket or tub. After the war, only a few models survived to tell a story and enjoy vintage car
insurance
coverage. Let us find out more about this Volkswagen Beettle
-esque car’s rich history. The Axis presented the Volkswagen Kübelwagen while American had a Jeep
When Nazi German started rolling out its war machine over Europe, a small, speedy vehicle was crucial to ferry soldiers in and out of warzones quickly. The Kübelwagen, or simply Kübel, was well-equipped for that job.
The Kübel was designed by the famous Ferdinand Porsche, whose work heavily borrowed ideas from the VW Beetle. If you think the name “Porsche” rings a bell, then you’d be correct. Ferdinand Porsche was the man behind the famous Porsche car company, the Mercedes-Benz SS, the first gasoline-electric car, and, of course, the Volkswagen Beetle.
From pictures and museum specimens, the Kübel closely resembles a Jeep. Both cars are lightweight and made for off-road purposes. In the summer of 1940, the U.S. army solicited bids from over 130 car manufacturers to produce a light 600-lb. recon car, and the Jeep was born. The Germans, on the other hand, wanted a Kübel that could weigh less than a ton when fully loaded with four combat-ready military personnel and their equipment.
Both vehicles had an open rooftop, and the doors lacked glass shields. This was to give the army a more significant visual advantage on all sides of the car.
Let Jerry find your price in only 45 seconds
No spam · No long forms · No fees
From a meeting with Hitler to over 50k Volkswagen Kübelwagens
Hitler first considered the idea of mass-producing
cheap Volkswagens
for military use in 1934. He discussed the possibility with Porsche, but nothing came of it.In 1938, with the Nazi's grand war plan on hand, a high German Waffenamt weapon agency officer approached Porsche to discuss the Kübel's conception again. This time, the meeting bore fruit, and Porsche began working on the design, which was completed in a month's time.
Realizing the prototype would not meet war demands, Porsche subcontracted Trutz, an experienced military engineer, to help reinforce the paneling. Testing began in November of 1938, and despite the vehicle being a two-wheel-drive model, its performance and maneuverability in rough terrains was impressive.
The greenlight for production was given, and as the war progressed, the vehicle played an essential role in the invasion of Poland, the Soviet Union, the Western front, and North Africa.
In terms of specs, in 1932, the Kübel Type 62 was developed with the lowest speed of 2.5 mph from 5 mph to move along with marching soldiers. Constant Allied bomb raids destroyed most auto factories, and only 50,000 Kübels reached battlefields, according to
Flying Heritage & Combat Armor Museum
, compared to over 650,000 Jeeps.How did the Kübel perform on the battlefield?
The tough Kübel was designed on simple geometrical features for easy construction with steel parts and a flat underbody. The flat surface allowed the Kübel to slide over unstable muddy or sandy surfaces.
Thick steel sheets surrounded the vehicle, but they were not strong enough to stop most bullets. While it couldn't stop bullets, the Kübel could easily be steered away from danger. It had a top speed of 55 mph, and each wheel had independent suspensions for a comfortable ride.
The original Kübels had a payload and a towing capacity of just 400-500 lb., nearly half of what a Jeep could carry around.
The interior was quite simple, with bucket seats to prevent soldiers from falling over and a wide, polished steel steering wheel. Uniquely, each Kübel had to carry a shovel, a gas can, and a small maintenance kit. A spare tire was also mounted on the hood.
Auto insurance deals for classic cars
Finding quality, affordable car insurance is one of the most challenging things drivers go through. You are not guaranteed quality services even after reading through tons of papers and web posts to understand the policy's terms and conditions.
Jerry
, a licensed broker, does all the hard work of finding cheap quotes from the top name-brand insurance companies and buying new car insurance. Jerry will even help you cancel your old policy.Are you overpaying for car insurance?
Compare quotes and find out in 45 seconds.
4.7You might also be interested
.jpg&w=64&q=75){kind=avatar}
